Lu Chen did not know the exact location of the valley where the Bosiqu Snakes lived.
But that did not mean searching for it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, because that place had several obvious characteristics.
First, it was not too far from Xiangyang City. Second, it had a fairly large waterfall, which meant there was likely a stream or small river nearby, with a high chance of flowing into the Han River.
So all they needed to do was search around Xiangyang City for streams and rivers flowing out of the mountains and into the Han River, then follow them upstream into the mountains. They might then find the valley where the Bosiqu Snakes lived.
The search area was only so large, and the traits were obvious enough. Even if they failed the first time, they would find it eventually after enough attempts.
Lu Chen took Huang Rong and searched around Xiangyang City according to the traits he had summarized, occasionally asking woodcutters and hunters for information.
Heaven rewarded those who worked hard.
After several days of searching, the two received news from an old hunter. He said that while following a certain stream into the mountains to hunt, he had once seen a strange snake. Its entire body seemed to emit a faint golden glow, and it could launch itself from the ground and leap through the air. It was exceptionally fierce.
"I've lived most of my life, and I've never seen such a vicious snake!"
Speaking of that encounter, the old hunter clicked his tongue in amazement and gestured vividly.
"An eagle swooped down from the sky, trying to catch that snake. But the snake actually sprang up from the ground—whoosh! It was as fast as a crossbow bolt. It shot five or six feet into the air and pounced right back onto that diving eagle, killing it with a single bite..."
Hearing this, Lu Chen was already certain that the strange snake the old hunter had seen—the one that could leap five or six feet into the air and kill an eagle—was undoubtedly a Bosiqu Snake.
He immediately gave the old hunter a two-hundred-cash Huizi note and asked him to lead them to the stream. After dismissing the old man, they followed the stream upstream into the mountains.
Huang Rong had long known the purpose of their journey from Lu Chen. Now that they had found clues about the "Bosiqu Snake," she was delighted. Walking lightly along the stream with her hands behind her back, she said cheerfully,
"Lu Chen, if that strange snake truly has the miraculous effects you described, we should build a hut in the mountains and train hard first. Once our martial arts have greatly advanced, we can go find the Black Wind Double Fiends."
Lu Chen nodded.
"Mm. That was what I had in mind too. But what counts as a great enough advance in martial arts?"
Huang Rong thought for a moment and said,
"How about piercing wood by half a foot with a Wooden Sword, without using Sword One?"
Lu Chen was stunned.
"Isn't that something only the Five Greats can do?"
Huang Rong giggled.
"No rush. We can train slowly. We still have time..."
The two chatted and laughed as they followed the stream, gradually venturing deeper into the mountains. Lu Chen began to grow more vigilant and warned Huang Rong,
"The Bosiqu Snake is not only swift as the wind and immensely strong, but its venom is also extremely potent. Rong'er, be careful. Don't let your guard down."
Huang Rong said with a grin,
"Don't worry. I'm very clever."
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Chen suddenly stopped and raised a hand to signal her to halt.
Huang Rong stopped and fell silent. Following his gaze, she saw a strange snake lying hidden in the grass more than ten steps ahead. It was five or six feet long, its scales glimmered faintly with golden light, and a crown-like fleshy horn grew from its head. With such distinctive features, it was clearly a Bosiqu Snake.
"We found it!"
Huang Rong spoke softly, delight shining in her bright eyes. An Emei Piercer slipped from her sleeve as she said eagerly,
"I'll catch it!"
Lu Chen stopped Rong'er, slowly drew his longsword, and said in a low voice,
"My weapon has greater reach. I'll test it first. Rong'er, stay behind me and cover me."
Huang Rong did not stubbornly insist. She obediently nodded.
Holding his longsword, Lu Chen gathered his breath and lightened his body, moving silently toward the Bosiqu Snake in the grass.
Just as he came within seven steps of it, the Bosiqu Snake, which had been lying motionless in the grass, suddenly raised its head and flicked out its tongue with a hiss. Its tail slammed against the ground, and as though it knew a Movement Technique, it sprang into the air. Turning into a streak of golden light, it shot at Lu Chen like a crossbow bolt.
"Watch out!"
Seeing the strange snake actually launch an attack, Huang Rong hurriedly cried out a warning.
Lu Chen had been watching the strange snake with complete concentration, so naturally he was not caught off guard. The instant the Bosiqu Snake leaped, he thrust out his sword, its tip aimed straight at the snake's head.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out. When the snake's head collided with the sword tip, several tiny sparks flew.
Lu Chen's blade buzzed and trembled. It felt as though he had stabbed an iron plate, and the rebounding force made the fingers gripping his sword go slightly numb. He could not help marveling at the strange snake's astonishing strength.
Of course, the strange snake had not come through unscathed either. Lu Chen's sword had struck its head. Though its tough scales remained unbroken, the internal force attached to the sword had still blasted into its skull, making its entire body stiffen before it fell to the ground.
Without waiting for it to recover, Lu Chen stepped forward and thrust again, accurately striking the strange snake seven inches below its head.
The scales at that spot were far less sturdy than those on its head, and there was no skull to protect it. The sword tip paused only slightly before piercing through the scales and into the snake's body.
The strange snake convulsed. Its tail curled backward, attempting to wrap around the blade, but Lu Chen withdrew his sword and retreated, causing its death throes to miss completely. Its tail could only slap the ground futilely, pounding it with loud bangs and sending dirt and stones flying.
Seeing this, Huang Rong clicked her tongue in amazement.
"What incredible strength this snake has!"
Lu Chen smiled.
"It truly has monstrous strength. Perhaps that is why its gallbladder can not only increase internal power, but also greatly enhance one's muscles, bones, and physical strength."
"What about the snake meat? What effect does it have?"
"I don't know about the meat. Perhaps it has some effect too?"
"Mm, we can make snake soup from it. At the very least, it should taste good."
"Even if it doesn't, Rong'er's cooking can turn the ordinary into something extraordinary."
As they spoke, the strange snake finally exhausted the last of its life force and lay motionless.
Lu Chen went over and tested it. Once he confirmed that it was truly dead, he used his longsword to cut open its belly and picked out a dark-purple gallbladder.
The gallbladder smelled terrible. The moment it came out, Huang Rong pinched her nose and fled away, wrinkling her little face as she said,
"Why is it so fishy? It smells at least several times worse than an ordinary snake gallbladder... No, ten times worse!"
Lu Chen also found the smell unbearable, but he still forced himself to say,
"Good medicine tastes bitter. Bosiqu Snake gallbladders are just like this."
As he spoke, he took the gallbladder to the nearby stream and washed it clean, but the heavy fishy odor did not diminish at all.
Lu Chen gritted his teeth, stuffed the gallbladder into his mouth, and repeatedly beckoned to Huang Rong.
Understanding, Huang Rong took out a waterskin and handed it to Lu Chen. Lu Chen gulped down a large mouthful of water and forcibly swallowed the gallbladder. Only then did he seem to come back to life, letting out a long breath.
"So bitter! Fishy and bitter! It's this bitter even when swallowed whole. If I chewed it and tasted it properly, I'd probably vomit on the spot."
Huang Rong looked at him sympathetically.
"How about this? Next time, let me cook it first before you eat it. Maybe that will lessen some of the fishiness and bitterness?"
"Forget it. Cooking it might cause it to lose much of its potency. I should swallow it raw." Lu Chen shook his head and smiled. "Martial arts training requires enduring hardship. This time, I'm literally eating bitterness."
As he spoke, he suddenly felt a warm current gradually spreading from his stomach, slowly flowing toward his internal organs and throughout his limbs and bones.
Lu Chen's spirits rose.
"The gallbladder's medicinal effects are starting!"
He quickly assumed a stance and began practicing Half-Move Sword One.
Previously, when he used Half-Move Sword One to cultivate true qi, even if he did not release the force at the end, he could only practice it three times in a row before exhausting his strength. He would then need to rest for two quarters of an hour before recovering.
But now, with the warm current continuously replenishing him from within his stomach, his strength was restored as quickly as it was consumed. He practiced dozens of times without feeling the slightest fatigue.
Furthermore, each time he practiced, the true qi generated was several times more robust than usual, and its quality was purer and more condensed.
By the time the warm current ceased flowing from his stomach, Lu Chen's internal power had greatly improved, while his muscles and bones had become tougher and his arm strength had increased considerably.
When Huang Rong saw that he had finally stopped training, she asked with concern,
"How was the effect?"
"Excellent!" Lu Chen grinned brightly. "The Bosiqu Snake is incredibly effective. It both improves internal power and increases strength. I can't keep such benefits all to myself. Rong'er and I should share our good fortune."
Huang Rong froze, blinked her bright eyes twice, then cheerfully declined.
"No, no, no. You bear a great responsibility. You should keep this benefit for yourself."
"That's not how it works. We're traveling the martial world together. How can my martial arts improve greatly while you remain where you are? When we catch another strange snake, its gallbladder will be yours, Rong'er!"
"No. You'll be the main force in capturing the Black Wind Double Fiends. I only need to lend some support. So your cultivation is what matters most."
"Rong'er..."
"My mind is made up. Say no more!"
Huang Rong assumed Master Rong's manner, clasping her hands behind her back, tightening her little face, and saying sternly,
"Lu Chen, have you forgotten who your first martial arts teacher was? Master Rong is doing this for your own good!"
"..."
Lu Chen had been utterly defeated.
After that, the two continued searching for Bosiqu Snakes. Near dusk, they found two more strange snakes. Master Rong, lofty and selfless, firmly refused to accept them, leaving all the gallbladders for Lu Chen.
Catching snakes after dark was dangerous, so the two left the mountains first and found an inn nearby to stay the night.
Huang Rong borrowed the kitchen, beheaded and skinned all three Bosiqu Snakes, cleaned and prepared them, then cooked a pot of snake soup and stir-fried a plate of snake meat slices.
Bosiqu Snake Meat was excellent. The soup was incredibly fresh and tender, while the meat slices were crisp and springy. Lu Chen praised it without end.
Huang Rong wanted nothing to do with snake gallbladders, but she did not refuse the snake meat she had cooked herself. She enjoyed a hearty meal as well, then discovered that the meat could also enhance internal power and physical strength. However, according to Lu Chen, its effects were far inferior to those of the gallbladder, amounting to only around a tenth as much.
Still, that was not bad. At least Huang Rong could improve her internal power and strength a little as well. It counted as sharing good fortune.
Early the next morning.
The two brought various tools and daily necessities back into the mountains. Beside a stream deep in the wilderness, they found an open clearing with beautiful scenery, cut bamboo and gathered wood, then built a wooden house.
Once the wooden house was finished, Lu Chen and Huang Rong caught snakes and trained in the mountains. With every catch, their internal power improved considerably.
Lu Chen also tried looking for the Divine Eagle, hoping to find the Sword Tomb it guarded and obtain those two precious swords.
But cultivation was still his priority. He did not spend too much effort deliberately searching, so he had yet to find the Divine Eagle.
He was not in a hurry.
The Divine Eagle also liked eating snakes. Since both sides were catching snakes in the mountains, they would run into each other sooner or later.
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